Topping DX9 Discrete: Fully Discrete 1-Bit DAC and Headphone Amplifier at £1,300
Topping has launched the DX9 Discrete, a flagship desktop DAC and headphone amplifier that takes a fundamentally different approach to digital-to-analogue conversion. Rather than relying on an off-the-shelf ESS Sabre or AKM chip, Topping has built the entire DAC stage from scratch using discrete components and a proprietary architecture called PSRM — Precision Stream Reconstruction Matrix. The result is one of the most technically ambitious products the Chinese manufacturer has produced, priced at £1,300 in the UK.
What Is PSRM? Not R2R, But Fully Discrete
It’s worth clarifying what PSRM actually is, because it differs from the R2R ladder DAC architecture that has become fashionable in recent years. The DX9 Discrete uses a high-frequency 1-bit delta-sigma modulation scheme — conceptually similar to a conventional chip DAC in its operating principle — but built entirely from discrete transistors and passive components rather than a monolithic integrated circuit. Topping claims this approach allows tighter control over noise and channel separation, and backs it up with headline figures of 131 dB dynamic range and SNR.
Inputs, Formats and Clocking
Connectivity is comprehensive. Digital inputs include USB, two optical, two coaxial, AES/EBU and I²S, with support for up to 32-bit/768 kHz PCM and DSD512 over USB and I²S. Bluetooth is built in, covering both LDAC and aptX Adaptive for high-resolution wireless streaming. A dual-stage clocking system based around a CPLD (complex programmable logic device) is used to reduce jitter across all digital inputs.
Headphone Amplifier: 7,080 mW Balanced
The integrated headphone amplifier uses Topping’s NFCA topology in a six-channel configuration, delivering up to 7,080 mW into 32 ohms from the balanced 4-pin XLR output — enough to drive virtually any planar magnetic or dynamic headphone on the market. A 10-band parametric equaliser and a customisable crossfeed function round out the listening tools.
Design and Display
The DX9 Discrete is available in silver and black finishes. A glass top panel reveals the internal PCB layout — a design choice that signals confidence in the engineering inside. The front panel features a distinctive split-section display arrangement that can be customised to show different parameters, and the overall industrial design is a step up from Topping’s previous flagships.
Price and Availability
The Topping DX9 Discrete is priced at £1,300 in the UK and is available now through authorised Topping dealers and the brand’s own online store. It sits above the existing DX9 and D90 III Sabre in the lineup and represents the most ambitious product Topping has released to date.
